Sen. Mike Lee: GOP Must Show What It's For, Not What It's Against

The faulty rollout of the Affordable Care Act has caused widespread discontent with President Barack Obama, leading to speculation that Republican candidates for Congress will have an easy road to victory in November's midterm elections.

But Sen. Mike Lee told "The Steve Malzberg Show" on Newsmax TV on Wednesday that Republicans need to make clear what they stand for, not just what they oppose, in appealing to voters.

"I respectfully but strongly disagree with that kind of strategy, the one that says let's just sit back and allow Obamacare to do the work for us, to bring us an election in November," the Utah Republican said.

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Lee said he wants Republicans to present not just one but 10 alternative proposals for healthcare reform to voters, to get as many good ideas on the table as possible. Tax credits or deductions and the ability for people to maintain their health plans when they move to different states should be at the core of a final alternative Republican proposal, Lee said.

"So, it's important for us to get behind the things that we're for in addition to calling out the things that we're against," Lee said.

Those include efforts reforming the federal regulatory system and loosening the bond between major corporations and the government, creating a more equal playing field between big companies and small businesses.

"We've got a lot of these proposals that Republicans have backed, but we have yet to fully connect to the public in terms of explaining how some of these policies will actually promote economic mobility, particularly among the poor and the middle class," Lee said.

"That's what we've got to do a better job of doing."

There is a lot at stake in these midterm elections, Lee said, and Republicans need to clearly demonstrate to voters why it is so important to change the direction of the country.

"You're seeing the greatest civilization the world has ever known being put on a wrong course by failed progressive policies that have actually enhanced, rather than diminished, the income inequality our friends on the left so like to cry out against, and it's sad and it's ultimately misguided," he said.

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The faulty rollout of the Affordable Care Act has caused widespread discontent with President Barack Obama, leading to speculation that Republican candidates for Congress will have an easy road to victory in November's midterm elections.